Europe Honors Dead Jews But Ignores Living Ones, Scholar Argues
Summarized from The Jerusalem Post by baba
Europe invests heavily in remembering its murdered Jews but often fails to listen to living Jewish communities and Israelis, argues Sharon Pardo. Visiting Kaunas, Lithuania, Pardo observed a disconnect between Holocaust remembrance and contemporary Jewish concerns, citing a survey where most European Jews feel blamed for Israeli actions. He criticizes academic boycotts of Israeli universities, arguing they hinder understanding, and concludes that living Jewish voices deserve to be heard, not treated as symbols.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Europe remembers murdered Jews through memorials but struggles to listen to living Jewish voices, according to Sharon Pardo.
- A 2024 EU survey found 76% of Jewish respondents conceal their identity and 75% feel blamed for Israeli government actions.
- Erasmus University Rotterdam froze cooperation with Israeli universities in June 2025, impacting academic exchange.
- Pardo argues that academic boycotts hinder understanding and that living Jews should not be treated as proxies for Israel.
- The writer visited Kaunas, Lithuania, reflecting on Holocaust history and contemporary Jewish life.
- Lea Goldberg, a notable poet, is remembered in Kaunas, symbolizing complex Jewish experiences.
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